Senate meeting - Help for the trades - Senate adopts action program
The Berlin Senate aims to help craft businesses in the capital with a series of issues. To this end, it has passed the "Action Program 2024-2026" on Tuesday as announced by Economic Senator Franziska Giffey (SPD) in the Rote Rathaus.
Craftsmen face many concerns: low interest from school leavers in apprenticeships, a shortage of skilled labor, a low female representation, insufficient young masters, or difficulties in finding a successor. The action plan includes 26 individual measures addressing these issue areas.
For example, more attention should be paid to career opportunities in crafts during vocational orientation in schools. Students should receive more opportunities to learn handcraft work in school workshops. Plans include strengthening the acceptance of dual studies with a crafts focus, offering workshops for young women in crafts to facilitate networking, and providing more affordable housing options for apprentices in crafts. A digital succession market for crafts is also planned.
Sufficient workforce is a central question
A central question is how to ensure that craft businesses find sufficient skilled and labor forces and sufficient young talent, says Giffey. For young people, it is often also an image question. "These are professions where you really have to put in effort and can also earn good money," says Giffey. However, this is not always perceived as such by young people.
Some measures are planned to be initiated. However, the most important thing: Young masters should receive a bonus of 5,000 Euro upon passing their exam. As a sign of recognition, a master craftsman ID is planned, which could provide concessions at museums, theaters, or swimming pools.
- The "Action Program 2024-2026" initiated by Berlin Senator Franziska Giffey (SPD) aims to address the low representation of women in the craft profession.
- The Berlin Senate recognizes the importance of promoting crafts as a viable career option for women, and thus, plans to offer workshops specifically for young women in crafts.
- In line with this, the "Action Program" includes measures such as strengthening dual studies with a crafts focus and providing more opportunities for young women to learn handcraft work in school workshops.
- The Berlin Senate also aims to facilitate networking among young women in the craft sector by organizing workshops and offering affordable housing options for apprentices in crafts.
- Germany's SPD-led Senate, with Franziska Giffey at its helm, understands the need for a digital succession market to ensure continuity in the craft business sector, particularly in attracting young talent.
- The Berlin Senate's "Action Program 2024-2026" aims to increase the proportion of women in the craft business sector, which currently remains underrepresented.
